Amina (19): Intelligent and strong-willed, but hides her vulnerabilities.
Zainab (Mama): Gentle and caring, yet carries a dangerous secret.
Alhaji Musa (Baba): Respected man in public, but harbors a hidden dark side.
Halima (Ummi, Amina's little sister): Observant and innocent, sees more than adults think she does.
CHAPTER 1: The Night Everything Changed
The house was quiet, as it usually was at night, but something felt different this evening. Zainab, Amina's mother, sat in the living room, trembling but trying to hide it. Amina stepped out of her room, clutching her notebook.
"Mama, are you cold?" Amina asked softly, moving closer.
Zainab forced a smile. "No, Amina. Go get ready for bed."
Amina nodded but noticed a strange tension in her mother's eyes. Whenever night came, Zainab seemed to carry a weight no one could see.
"Mama, is something wrong? Please tell me," Amina pleaded.
Zainab turned away. "Amina… nothing."
At that moment, the front door opened. Alhaji Musa returned. Amina felt a chill run through her body. His smile was not like usual—it was forced, hiding something dangerous.
"What are you doing still up?" he asked sharply.
Amina stepped back silently. Zainab stood, whispering, "Go to bed, please…"
Amina returned to her room but couldn't close the door entirely. She heard her father's voice rise:
"I warned you! If this happens again…"
Her mother's quiet sobs followed, and Amina closed her eyes. She realized that the secrets within her family were no longer hidden—they were coming to the surface.
Some truths are too heavy to stay buried, and tonight, Amina would begin to understand that.
Morning light spilled quietly into Amina's room, but it did nothing to calm the storm in her mind. Sleep had refused to come last night. Every sound, every whisper, every raised voice from her parents replayed like a broken record.
Halima slept peacefully beside her, unaware of the darkness growing around their home. Amina brushed her sister's hair gently before stepping out of the room